Systems and methods for remote viewing of patient images

ABSTRACT

A digital camera containing patient images is connected to an uploader computer and the patient&#39;s name or history is entered into the uploader computer. The uploader computer then connects to the Internet, connects to the secure host server, uploads the images to the host server and shuts down the Internet connection. After the physician selects a medical facility and the system verifies the physician&#39;s user I.D. and password, the host server constructs an HTML web page which includes a list of patients whose images were previously uploaded by the medical facility and are available for viewing The physician simply selects the name of a patient and the host server displays the patient information and images on the physician&#39;s computer. The system is password-protected at all levels and the operator for each medical facility determines who may have access to the medical facility images.

[0001] This application contains Microfiche Appendix, pursuant to 37 CFR1.96 (MPEP 608.05), of a computer program listing printout of over tenpages.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Technical Field

[0003] The present invention relates, generally, to systems and methodsfor remote viewing and, more particularly, to a password-protectedsystem which acquires and transmits patient images to a server forremote access via the Internet.

[0004] 2. Background Invention

[0005] A medical facility typically requires physician input todetermine the most appropriate medical care for the patient. However,requiring a physician to be present 24 hours a day at the medicalfacility to examine the patient, or a radiological image of the patient,may be inefficient and expensive. Particularly, a medical facility maynot have the financial resources or patient volume to support aphysician on site at all times; the medical facility may be located in aremote location; or a town may not have a sufficient number ofphysicians available to be located at each medical facility at all timesof the day. As such, when a patient requires medical attention, anexperienced physician may not be readily available at a particularmedical facility.

[0006] Accordingly, a system is needed which acquires an image of apatient and transmits the image to a remote location for viewing andanalysis by an experienced physician. While prior art teleradiologysystems exist which establish a direct communication link to a remotelocation and transmit radiological images to the remote location, thesesystems often require dedicated hardware and software at the medicalfacility and at the remote viewing location wherein the hardware andsoftware is complicated and expensive. Due to increasing budgetconstraints, medical facilities and physicians typically cannot allocatethe substantial funds required to purchase the dedicated teleradiologysystems. Moreover, existing teleradiology systems do not provide secure,password-protected transmission of data from numerous medical facilitiesto a centralized repository for remote viewing by physicians from theirexisting personal computers.

[0007] With the rapid expansion of the Internet and other computer-basedtechnologies, a personal computer already exists at a physician's homeor office. Physicians are also becoming increasingly knowledgeable ofcomputer technology, the use of a personal computer, and the use ofinformation on the Internet. While the Internet allows the transmissionof electronic mail with image attachments, the use of electronic mail istypically not secure and requires the entry of various Internetaddresses in order to send an image to multiple locations. Moreover,many individual medical facilities have their own computer systems whichcan be accessed, via a user identification and password, by physiciansassociated with the medical facility. However, physicians are typicallyassociated with a few medical facilities, thereby often requiring aphysician to obtain, and keep track of, different user identificationsand passwords to access each medical facility computer. Thus, a systemis needed which allows physicians to use a single user identificationand password for viewing patient images from a home or office, in asecure manner, over the Internet.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] To upload images, a person at the medical facility simply takespictures of the patient or the patient's radiological scan with adigital camera which instantly digitizes the patient images. The digitalcamera is then connected to the uploader computer and the patient's nameor history is entered into the uploader computer. The uploader programin the uploader computer automatically obtains the images from thedigital camera and generates a data file, which includes the digitizedimages and any other patient information. The uploader computer thenconnects to the Internet, connects to the secure host server, uploadsthe images to the host server and shuts down the Internet connection.All of the operations are automatic, so the person at the medicalfacility does not need to wait by the computer while images are beinguploaded. The system is password-protected at all levels and theadministrator for each medical facility determines who may have accessto the medical facility images.

[0009] When the physician uses an Internet compatible computer, thephysician simply logs on to the host website which displays a list ofmedical facilities. Upon selection of a particular medical facility, thewebsite requests entry of the physician's user I.D. and password. Afterverifying the physician's user I.D. and password, the host serverconstructs an HTML web page then displays the web page which includes alist of patients whose images were previously uploaded by the medicalfacility and are available for viewing. The physician simply selects thename of a patient and the host server displays the patient informationand images on the physician's computer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

[0010] The subject invention will herein be described in conjunctionwith the appended drawing figures, wherein like numerals denote likeelements, and:

[0011]FIG. 1 is an exemplary schematic diagram of a simplified imageretrieval and viewing system;

[0012]FIG. 2 is an exemplary schematic diagram of the camera system ingreater detail;

[0013]FIG. 3 is an exemplary schematic diagram of the uploader system inmore detail;

[0014]FIG. 4 is an exemplary schematic diagram of the physician computerin more detail;

[0015]FIG. 5 shows an exemplary screen display of the uploader system;

[0016]FIG. 6 shows an exemplary screen display of patient data on thephysician computer while connected to the host website;

[0017]FIG. 7 shows an exemplary screen display of the home page on thephysician computer while connected to the host website;

[0018]FIG. 8 shows an exemplary flow diagram of the process foracquiring, uploading and viewing patient images;

[0019]FIG. 9 shows an exemplary flow diagram of the process foruploading images from the uploader system to the host server; and,

[0020]FIG. 10 shows an exemplary flow diagram of the process, forphysician access to the patient images on the host server.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0021] The present system and method generally allows the remote viewingover the Internet of patient images which are uploaded from a medicalfacility. The present invention may used in association with hospitals,clinics, emergency rooms, film rooms, x-ray facilities, medical offices,sports facilities and/or the like. Other users of the present inventionneed not be in the medical field. For example, any business ororganization which requires a secure, password-protected depository onthe Internet for the exclusive viewing of documents, images, text and/orthe like by only authorized users is also contemplated within the scopeof the present invention.

[0022] Referring to FIG. 1, system 5 preferably includes a camera system10, an uploader system 50, an Internet 100, a host server 110 and aphysician computer 150. In a preferred embodiment, referring to FIGS. 1and 8 system 5 includes a unique process for acquiring, uploading andviewing patient images. To upload images, camera system 10 suitablyacquires and digitizes the image (step 250) then uploader system 50automatically obtains the image from camera system 10 (step 252).Uploader system 50 generates a data file including the patient image andpatient information (step 254) then uploader system 50 connects toInternet 100 and uploads the images and associated information to hostserver 110 (step 256). The physician, using physician computer 150,suitably accesses Internet 100 and logs on to the host website 200 (FIG.7) located on host server 110 (step 258). After suitable verification,host server 110 generates a web page (step 260), including the data fileimage and patient information, which is transmitted to physiciancomputer 50 for the physician to view the images of particular patients.One skilled in the art will appreciate that communication betweenuploader system 50, host server 110 and physician computer 150 can alsobe achieved using a local area network or other similar communicationsystems in accordance with the present invention. Because the presentinvention preferably incorporates existing communication channels overthe Internet and commonly available camera systems 100, uploader systems50 and physician computers 150, the system is less expensive than otherteleradiology systems, requires no specialized training and isupgradable as the respective technologies improve.

[0023] Camera system 10 is any device or combination of devices suitablyconfigured to acquire an image, digitize an image and transmit thedigital image to uploader system 50. One of ordinary skill in the artwill appreciate that camera system 10 can acquire any image inaccordance with the present invention including, for example, x-rays, MRimages, CT images or any other radiological image or a direct picture ofpatient pathology, wounds, lacerations, cellulitus, rashes, labs, EKGs,documents or any other information or subject capable of beingphotographed by a camera. Referring to FIG. 2, in a preferredembodiment, camera system 10 includes a digital camera 12, an imagedigitizer 14, an image storage buffer 16 and other known hardware andsoftware components and electronics for suitable operation of a digitalcamera. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that camera 12,image digitizer 14 and image storage 16 can be separate components orincorporated into a single digital camera device. Moreover, imagedigitizer 14 is any suitable device for digitizing an image such as,for, example, a camera which acquires the image in digital form, ananalog-to-digital convertor and/or the like. Alternatively, uploadersystem 50 can include the digitizing component. In a preferredembodiment of the present invention, camera system 10 comprises a Sony®DSC-F1 digital camera manufactured by the Sony® Corporation.

[0024] After one or a plurality of images are obtained using camerasystem 10, camera system 10 is suitably connected to uploader system 50to allow the transmission of the JPEG file images, stored in imagestorage 16, to uploader system 50. It is understood that camera system10 digitizes the image before transmitting the image to uploader system50; however, the present system also contemplates that uploader system50 may digitize the image instead of camera system 10. Furthermore,camera system 10 may be permanently connected to uploader system 50, orpreferably, camera system 10 is configured to be removably connected touploader system 50 by a removable cable, thereby allowing camera system10 to be freely manipulated to obtain close-up views of the patientimage at almost any angle. Alternatively, camera system 50 may transmitthe digital information to uploader system 50 via a signal, such as aninfrared beam, without the need for a cable connection. Moreover, ifcamera 12 is connected to uploader system 50 during image retrieval,image storage 16 may not be necessary if the images are sent directly touploader system 50.

[0025] Uploader system 50 is any device or combination of devicessuitably configured to accept data from camera system 10 and generate adata file which includes the information from camera system 10. Uploadersystem 50 is also any system-which automatically connects to Internet100, logs onto a host server 110 website, suitably uploads images to thewebsite and shuts down the Internet connection. Uploader system 50 ispreferably an Apple® iMAC® computer. Referring to FIG. 3, in a preferredembodiment, uploader system 50 includes processor 52, display 54, FTPprogram 58, TCP/IP 62, PPP 64, serial port 66, and modem 68. Processor52 is any suitable central processing unit which executes a personalcomputer's software and displays the acquired images on display monitor54. Processor 52 is also any suitable device capable of executing webbrowser software to access the Internet 100. In an alternativeembodiment, system 5 includes numerous uploader systems 50 in which theindividual processors 52 are networked to other processors through anEthernet connection. Alternatively, TCP/IP 62 may be connected to alocal network medium such as an Ethernet connection. In anotherembodiment, modem 68 is replaced with a direct connection to Internet100. Moreover, one skilled in the art will appreciate that TCP/IP 62,PPP 64, serial port 66 and/or modem 68 can be multiple components, partof one system, internal to a computer, external devices or not requiredif a direct connection to the Internet is used.

[0026] With reference to FIG. 5, the medical facility operatorpreferably interfaces with a screen display 170 of uploader system 50which is a graphical user interface preferably including a first namefield 171, a last name field 172, a history field 174, a Send Images toInternet Command 176, a Fax More Permanent Passwords Command 178, a FaxMore One-time Passwords Command 180, an image field 182, a log field184, a Clear Log Command 186 and a Settings Command 188. One skilled inthe art will appreciate that screen display 170 can include other fieldsand commands to preform functions, display data or optimize othercomputer variables in accordance with the present invention.

[0027] Referring to FIGS. 5 and 9, after connecting camera system 10 touploader system 50, the medical facility operator enters a patient nameinto patent name fields 171, 172 and/or history associated with aparticular patient into history field 174 (step 300). Processor 52 ofuploader system 50 then creates a location on its hard drive with atemporary file name for the particular patient (step 302). After theoperator selects the Send Images to Internet Command 176 (step 304),processor 52 automatically transmits a request for a download of allimages from camera system 10 wherein the request includes the locationof the temporary file on the hard drive in uploader system 50. Inresponse to the request, camera system 10 suitably transmits thepreviously acquired images in JPEG format to uploader system 50 (step306). In a preferred embodiment, camera system 10 includes knownsoftware which is configured to respond to the download request.Uploader system 50 preferably includes a macro which re-creates thedownloading routine such that the downloading process is automatic afterselection of the Send Images to Internet Command 176 by the operator. Ina preferred embodiment, the macro QUICKEYS™ produced by CE Softwaresuitably provides the automatic re-creation of the downloading process.

[0028] After receiving the images, uploader system 50 suitably countsthe number of images transmitted from camera system 10 (step 308). In apreferred embodiment, if the image data includes over 50 K bytes of640×480 pixel images, then processor 52 compresses the images usingknown compression routines before transmitting the images to host server110 (step 310). If the image data includes under 50 K bytes of 640×480pixel images, then processor 52 preferably does not compress the images.One skilled in the art will appreciate that the threshold forimplementing the compression routine or the image pixel dimensions canbe changed to any desired quantity. Moreover, before transmitting theimages to host server 110, processor 52 suitably creates “thumbnail”128×96 pixel images of each image and displays the thumbnail images inimage field 182 as the thumbnail images are processed (step 312).Uploader system 50 also suitably populates the previously createdtemporary data file with the aforementioned information, namely thenumber of images, patient name, current date and time, full images andthumbnail images. Uploader system 50 also renames the previously createddata file with an exclamation point (!), patient name, time stamp andchecksum (step 314). For example, the name of the data file could be “!Smith Robert 11:15 PM E5”.

[0029] Uploader system 50 then connects to the Internet 100 throughmodem 68 or through a direct connection between processor 52 andInternet 100 (step 316). With reference to FIG. 3, modem 68 preferablyconnects uploader system 50 to Internet 100. In this regard modem 68 isany hardware or software which is configured to translate between thedigital information sent from processor 52 of uploader system 50 to theanalog domain of a telephone system. In a preferred embodiment, modem 68converts serial digital data from serial port 66 into analog signalssuitable for transmission over telephone lines. Modem 68 is any commonlyavailable modem having established standards used by a number of modemmanufacturers such as, for example, a commercially available modemmanufactured by Rockwell. Point-to-point Protocol (PPP) 64 softwareestablishes communication with modem 68. PPP is a standard which enablesmultiple network protocols to be used over a modem line or other serialconnection. One skilled in the art will appreciate that other commonlyknown standards for enabling multiple network protocols to be used overa modem line can alternatively be used. PPP software 64 is suitablyconfigured and initialized by known methods for communication withprocessor 52 and modem 68.

[0030] TCP/IP 62 is a widely used network protocol which controls therouting of data and the transfer of data, thereby providing a commonmeans of interconnection through packet transfer devices known asgateways. After processor 52 sends data to TCP/IP 62, TCP/IP 62encapsulates the data into segments called TCP packets with headerinformation. The header information tracks, checks and orders the datasegments in the proper sequence, thereby helping to assure packetdelivery, integrity and sorting order. TCP/IP 62 records the acceptanceof error-free segments by host server 110. If a segment is not timelyacknowledged, TCP/IP 62 re-transmits the packet. The TCP packets aretransmitted to an Internet protocol which arranges the segments intoInternet protocol packets which contain an IP header wherein the IPheader includes address information which enable the gateways to routethe IP packet to its proper destination. The IP header contains thesource and destination Internet addresses, thereby enabling gateways toproperly route the data. One of ordinary skill in the art willappreciate that any initialization and configuration procedures can beused to incorporate TCP/IP 62 into uploader system 50.

[0031] Referring again to FIGS. 3 and 9, after connecting to Internet100, processor 52 launches an FTP program 58 called FETCH produced byThe Trustees of Dartmouth College. Processor 52 then provides FETCH withinformation needed to identify and route the data file, namely the useridentification, password, FTP location and data file name (step 318).After appropriate verification procedures between uploader system 50 andhost server 110, FETCH uploads the selected data file containing thepatient information, full images and thumbnail images by transmittingthe data file to host server 110 (step 320). If the transmission issuccessful (as determined by known in the art procedures discussedabove), the file is renamed by deleting the exclamation point (!) fromthe beginning of the file name (step 322). By deleting the ! after asuccessful transmission, any incomplete or problem files can be easilyidentified and deleted (as discussed below). After completing thetransmission of information over Internet 100, uploader system 50automatically terminates the connection to internet 100 (step 324). Forconfidentiality and security purposes, in a preferred embodiment, allimages are uploaded by uploader system 50 to host server 110 areautomatically erased after twenty-four hours. One of ordinary skill inthe art will appreciate that the automatic deletion feature can beconfigured for different time periods for different medical facilities,depending on the medical facility preference.

[0032] With reference to FIG. 5, during the downloading process fromcamera system 10 to uploader system 50 and during the uploading processfrom uploader system 50 to host server 110, log field 184 suitablyrecords and displays most actions in real time, thereby allowing theoperator to ensure accurate system performance. To clear Log Field 184,the operator can select the Clear Log Command 186 which suitably deletesthe display entries from Log Field 184. Moreover, Settings Command 188on screen display 170 allows the operator to adjust various known in theart computer display and interface connections. For example, theoperator can change the interface connection setting from a directconnection to a PPP connection. In a preferred embodiment, to reduceuser manipulation of system 5, the operator does not have access to theSettings Command 188; but instead, the operator is required to call theoperator of host server 110 to request access to Settings Command 188.Upon approval, host server 110 suitably allows the medical facilityoperator to adjust particular settings of system 5.

[0033] System 5 includes password protection on multiple levels.Referring again to FIG. 1, when the operator of the medical facilityuploads images to host server 110 using uploader system 50, uploadersystem 50 preferably transmits an appropriate password to host server110 for verification by host server 110 before host server uploadsimages transmitted by uploader system 50. Moreover, system 5 is suitablyconfigured to allow the operator to limit the access to the web pagecreated by uploader system 50 to particular physicians or other users.An operator may add a new physician which is entitled to access the webpage by providing the physician with a temporary or permanent-temporarypassword. A permanent-temporary password allows users to becomepermanent users for that particular medical facility. One time temporarypasswords may only be used for accessing the web page once for aparticular medical facility.

[0034] With reference to FIGS. 1 and 5, Fax More, Permanent Passwordscommand 178 provides a convenient procedure for supplying additionaltemporary-permanent physician passwords for distribution by the medicalfacility operator. More specifically, the medical facility operatorinitially determines particular physicians which the medical facilityapproves having repeated access to the particular medical facilities'patient information. After selecting Fax More Permanent PasswordsCommand 178, for security reasons, uploader system 50 requests entry ofthe operator's password. After the operator enters a pre-assignedpassword and host server 110 verifies the operator's password, hostserver 110 transmits a request to a processor to generate a list ofphysician temporary-permanent passwords for a particular medicalfacility and to fax the list to the medical facility which requested thephysician passwords. In a preferred embodiment, thirty-two new physicianpasswords are generated and distributed in response to each request. Themedical facility operator then communicates the passwords to authorizedphysicians. One skilled in the art will appreciate that system 5 maysuitably limit the request, retrieval and allocation of physicianpasswords to administrators of the medical facility by requiring specialadministrator passwords.

[0035] The physician passwords only provide access to the certainpatient data at a particular medical facility. Moreover, the physicianpasswords and IDs are initially temporary. An exemplary temporaryphysician password is “4123” and temporary user ID is “TEMP1234.” Oneskilled in the art will appreciate that the user passwords and IDs maybe any combination of numbers, letters, symbols and/or the like. Afterthe physician enters a temporary user ID and temporary-permanentpassword into physician computer 150, the temporary user ID andtemporary-permanent password is suitably transmitted to host server 110.Host server 110 verifies the temporary-permanent password against anexisting list of authorized passwords and requests entry of thephysician's social security number, name and address. Host server 110then re-assigns the physician's social security number as the newpermanent physician user ID and requests the physician to enter a newpermanent password, if desired. In a preferred embodiment, the physiciancan select a new permanent password having 4-8 characters. Afterreceiving the physician's new password selection, host server 110records the new password in association with the physician user ID andthe new password is now the physician's permanent password. However, aphysician who is registered as a user of one site cannot view images ofanother site unless the physician is also a registered user of thesecond site. Because physicians are often registered with more than onemedical facility, the physician can receive a different temporarypassword from another medical facility, and upon following the sameprocedure as set forth above, the physician can change all temporarypasswords from different medical facilities to the same permanentpassword for all medical facilities. In this regard, the passwordallocation and replacement routine of the present invention reducesphysician confusion and simplifies physician interaction with thesystem.

[0036] Alternatively, the operator can select Fax More One-TimePasswords command 180 which will generate and fax a list of temporary.passwords to the medical facility. This list of passwords iscommunicated to physicians; however, the physician can only use thesetemporary password's to access the records of a particular medicalfacility within system 5 one time. More specifically, the medicalfacility determines particular physicians which ‘should have access fora 24-hour period to the particular’ medical facilities' patientinformation. After selecting Fax More Permanent Passwords command 178,uploader system 50 requests, similar to above, entry of the operator'spassword. After the operator enters a pre-assigned password and hostserver 110 verifies the operator's password, host server 110 transmits arequest to a processor to generate a list of temporary physicianpasswords for a particular medical facility and to fax the list to themedical facility which requested the physician. passwords. In apreferred embodiment, thirty-two new temporary physician passwords aregenerated and distributed in response to each request. The medicalfacility operator then communicates the temporary passwords toauthorized physicians. Upon entry of a temporary user ID, such as, forexample, “1TEMP1234,” and temporary password into physician computer150, the special user ID and temporary password is transmitted to hostserver 110. Host server 110 verifies the temporary password (but doesnot change the user ID or password as above), then the system allows thephysician to view certain patient data in the particular medicalfacilities' patient information data file. After the physician exits theparticular medical facilities' patient information, the temporarypassword is deleted from the authorized password list in host server110.

[0037] After receiving a user ID and password as set forth above, thephysician can access the patient information in host server 110.Referring to FIG. 1, host server 110 is any hardware or softwaresuitably configured to accept data files from uploader system 50 and toallow the physician's web browser 156 to access information from hostserver 110. Host server 110 is preferably an Apple Macintosh® server inresponse to a request by the physician's web browser 156, host server110 transmits Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) pages through Internet100 to physician computer 150. HTML pages describe the information whichis on web page 200 sent by the host server 110. When a physicianaccesses web page 200 (FIG. 7), the HTML page instructs the physician'sweb browser 156 to display on the computer display 154 variousinformation such as, for example, buttons, text, images, animatedreal-time loops of images, sounds and/or the like. The HTML page isdirectly encoded into software located in host server 110 by known inthe art commercially available desktop publishing and word processingsoftware for writing the HTML page and other known software is used toencode the page into HTML form. In that regard, web pages 200 containHTML tags of data which assist the physician's web browser 156 ininterpreting HTML page. The HTML page may also include HREF Hypertextreferences which provide a means for linking to other web pages withinhost server 110 or anywhere on the Internet 100. After the HTML pagesare created, their storage addresses are recorded at host server 110.Thus, when a physician makes a request to view a particular HTML page,host server 110 is responsible for finding the page based on the storageaddress and sending its contents to the physician's web browser 156.

[0038] More particularly, referring to FIGS. 1,6,7 and 10, after thephysician enters the Internet address for web page 200 (FIG. 7) locatedon host server 110 (step 350), physician web browser 156 sends a datapacket to host server 110 which is received by the WEBSTAR™ programlocated in host server 110. The WEBSTAR™ program is commonly availableand is distributed by Star Nine, Inc.™. WEBSTAR™ suitably transmits webpage 200 information to physician computer 150 and WEBSTAR™ logs theInternet Protocol address of physician computer 150 (step 352). Web page200 preferably displays a list of medical facilities 205 (FIG. 7) whichhave previously uploaded patient data to host server 110 (step 354).After the physician selects a medical facility from the list of medicalfacilities 205, a data packet containing the medical facility request istransmitted to host server 110 (step 356). Host server 110 thentransmits a request for the physician's user ID and password tophysician computer 150. After the physician enters the appropriate userID and password information into physician computer 150, a data packetcontaining the user ID and password is transmitted to host server 110which validates the user ID and password (step 358).

[0039] Host server 110 then transmits the physician's medical facilityrequest to “a program called PATIENT.ACGI (located on host server 110).WEBSTAR™ also suitably interrogates the passwords and preforms variouspassword functions which are known in the art, including thetransmission of certain passwords to PATIENT.ACGI. PATIENT.ACGI suitablyaccesses the selected medical facility folder which contains theindividual patient folders 60 (step 360). Each medical facilitypredetermines an expiration time limit for their own patient folders 60and the expiration time limit is stored in host server 110. PATIENT.ACGIsuitably interrogates each patient folder 60 and compares the patientfolder time stamp (which indicates the' time and date the folder wasuploaded to host server 110) with the selected medical facilityexpiration time limit. If the patient folder time stamp is later in timethen the medical facility expiration time limit, the patient folder 60is deleted. Moreover, PATIENT.ACGI suitably interrogates each patientfolder name and deletes any folder 60 with a name which contains anexclamation point (!) because, as discussed above, the ! in the patientfolder 60 name indicates that the folder may contain corrupted orincomplete data (step 362). After deleting the unwanted patient folders60, PATIENT.ACGI accesses a pre-established HTML web page having emptypatient folder 60 fields. PATIENT.ACGI then populates the patient folder60 fields with the patient folder 60 information associated with theselected medical facility (step 364). PATIENT.ACGI then transmits thepopulated HTML web page to WEBSTARTM (step 366), which then transmitsthe populated HTML web page to physician computer 150 (step 368).

[0040] Physician computer 150 is any system or software suitablyconfigured to access the Internet 100 and browse web page 200 in hostserver 110. Referring to FIG. 4, physician computer 150 preferablyincludes processor 152, display 154, web browser 153, TCP/IP 158, PPP160, serial port 162 and modem 164. A physician suitably requestsprocessor 152 to instruct web browser 156 to access the website locatedat host server 110. When accessing host server 110 through Internet 100,web browser 156 utilizes TCP/IP 158, PPP 160, serial port 162, and modem164 in a similar manner as discussed above. Web browser 156 is anycommonly known web browser software such as, for example, Netscape®,Microsoft® Internet Explorer®, or the America OnLine® web browser. Oneskilled in the art will appreciate that there is known in the artbrowser function's which are incorporated into host server 110 and webbrowser 156 thereby allowing the physician to manipulate the images, andbrowse various web pages at the website.

[0041] After receiving the populated HTML web page, physician computer150 displays the HTML web page for the selected medical facility ondisplay 154. The physician then views all of the patient folder 60 nameswhich are available and selects a particular patient name from which thephysician can view the selected patient's images (step 370). A datapacket containing the patient selection is suitably transmitted to hostserver 110. After receiving the patient selection data packet, hostserver 110 suitably transmits the patient selection information to aprogram called GETPATIENT.ACGI. In a preferred embodiment,GETPATIENT.ACGI also TRANSMITS all physician entries to a log databasewhich logs all physicians which view a particular patient folder 60(step 372). GETPATIENT.ACGI interrogates the patient folder 60corresponding to the selected patient and searches for an INDEX.HTMLfile which indicates that the patient folder 60 has previously beenviewed. If the INDEX.HTML file exists, GETPATIENT.ACGI transmits theselected patient folder 60 to WEBSTARTM (step 376) which then transmitspatient folder 60 to the physician web browser 156 (step 378) (see FIG.6). If GETPATIENT.ACGI does not find an INDEX.HTML file in patientfolder 60, GETPATIENT.ACGI generates an INDEX.HTML file (step 374).

[0042] Host server 110 also responds to specific requests of web browser156, such as performing a specific action including, for example, arequest to increase the size of an image on web page 58. One skilled inthe art will appreciate that host server 110 Is configured with varioussecurity features. For example, a configuration file may control theaccess of a particular physician to certain web pages. Furthermore,physician access may be limited to specific drives, directories andfiles and a physician may be restricted from inputting data into a webpage. In other words, web page 58 is a read only web page. One ofordinary skill in the art will also appreciate that host server 110 mayrestrict access to certain physicians and other users based uponrequested user ID numbers and passwords.

[0043] While the present invention has been described in conjunctionwith preferred and alternative embodiments set forth in the drawingFigures and the specification, it will be appreciated that the inventionis not so limited. Various modifications in the selection andarrangement of components, interfaces and process steps may be madewithout departing from the spirit and 'scope of the invention as setforth in the appended claims.

I claim
 1. A system for secure transmission of data from a facility to acentralized host server for remote viewing from a personal computer,said system comprising: a camera device; an uploader device configuredto acquire information from said camera device, said uploader deviceconfigured to automatically transmit information over a network, saidhost server configured to communicate with a plurality of said uploaderdevices through said network; and, said personal computer configured tocommunicate with said host server.
 2. The system of claim 1 wherein saidcamera device is a digital camera.
 3. The system of claim 1 wherein saidnetwork is at least one of a public, packet-switched Internet and anEthernet.
 4. The system of claim 1 wherein said information includestext and images of a patient.
 5. The system of claim 4 wherein saidimages of patient include at least one of radiological images, x-rays,MR images, CT images, direct pictures of patient pathology, lab data,EKG data, documents and images capable of being photographed by a camera6. The system of claim 1 wherein said host server requests a useridentification and password from said personal computer; said useridentification and password being identical when accessing any of saidinformation.
 7. The system of claim 1 wherein said host server isconfigured to automatically transmit to said facility a list of newpasswords upon a request by said uploader device.
 8. The system of claim7 wherein said password is at least one of a temporary password andtemporary-permanent password.
 9. The system of claim 1 wherein saidfacility is at least one of a hospital, clinic, emergency room, filmroom, x-ray facility, medical office and sports facility.
 10. The systemof claim 1 wherein said host server is. configured to construct andtransmit to said personal computer a web page containing a list ofavailable medical facilities and a list of patient images from each ofsaid medical facilities
 11. The system of claim 1 wherein said uploaderdevice is removably connected to said camera device.
 12. A method forsecurely transmitting data acquired by a camera device to a centralizedhost server for remote viewing from a personal computer, said methodcomprising: acquiring and digitizing images using said camera device;transmitting images to an uploader device; transmitting said images tosaid host server via a network; assembling a web page, including saidImages, at said host server in response to a request from said personalcomputer; and, transmitting said web page to said personal computer 13.The method of claim 12 wherein said step of transmitting images to saidhost server includes: entering text including at least one of patientname and patient history into said uploader device; requesting atransfer of images; counting said images; compressing said images ifimage file is greater than a predetermined threshold; generatingthumbnail image representations of said images; populating a data fileincluding said images, thumbnail image representations and associatedtext entries at said uploader device; establishing a network connection;transmitting data file to said host server; and, terminating saidnetwork connection.
 14. The method of claim 12 wherein said steps, ofassembling a web page and transmitting said web page to said personalcomputer include: establishing a network connection at said personalcomputer; entering host server network address at said personalcomputer; transmitting list of medical facilities from said host serverto said personal computer; selecting a medical facility at said personalcomputer; validating user identification and password entered at saidpersonal computer; accessing, at said host server, patient foldersassociated with said selected medical facility; populating, at said hostserver, an HTML web page with said patient folders; transmitting saidHTML web page from said host server to said personal computer;selecting, at said personal computer, one of said patient folders insaid HTML web page,; and, transmitting said selected one of said patientfolders to said personal computer, wherein said patient folder includessaid images.
 15. The method of claim 12 further comprising the steps of:a) requesting, at said uploader device, temporary-permanent passwordsfor a particular medical facility for users of said personal computers;b) distributing said temporary-permanent passwords to said users; c)requesting, at said personal computer, entry of said temporary-permanentpassword; d) requesting entry, at said personal computer, of a newpassword; f) replacing said temporary-permanent password with said newpassword; g) repeating steps (a)-(f) for a different medical facilitysuch that said new password is identical for each of said medicalfacility.